'Dangerous' road island may be removed after four weeks

Bradford Council built the refuge to relieve congestion at a traffic bottleneck and make crossing easier – but has been inundated with complaints since it was put in place on January 19.

Walkers claim it is dangerous and it has meant losing a filter lane, leading to even bigger jams.

Drivers have been cutting in front of queuing traffic into the path of oncoming cars and many fear a serious accident is inevitable.

Officials are now ready to remove the island in Shipley, which cost 3,140 – a process which will waste a further 800.

Coun Vanda Greenwood said: "It is a bottleneck anyway at this junction and this is causing cars to back all the way up Crag Road. It is making the queues a lot longer than they were before and it is dangerous."

A Bradford Council spokesman said the island was installed to improve safety because of residents' concerns.

Craig Williams, the council's traffic feasibility project engineer, said: "The continued presence of the pedestrian refuge is under review which includes consultation with police."